A 25-year-old Lomita man threw fireworks under Sheriff’s Department horses during Fourth of July patrols in Hermosa Beach. Seventeen years later, that arrest launched a stand-up career.
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The July 4, 2009 Arrest
Craig Conant faced two charges after tossing fireworks beneath mounted patrol horses working the Strand on Independence Day 2009. Four sheriff’s deputies and two Hermosa Beach officers were patrolling when the incident occurred.
The horses didn’t flinch. Deputies chased Conant down and arrested him within minutes.
Hermosa Beach Police Chief Greg Savelli told the San Bernardino Sun that the animals had been trained for exactly these situations. They continued their patrol shift without interruption.
Authorities charged Conant with harming or obstructing a peace officer’s horse and possession of explosive devices.
Why Mounted Patrol Was There
The Strand draws massive crowds each Fourth of July. The beachfront boardwalk fills with spectators watching the annual Hermosa Beach Ironman, where competitors run a mile, paddle a mile, and drink a six-pack.
All fireworks are banned in Hermosa Beach. Fire crews patrol residential areas during Independence Day weekend looking for violations. The mounted patrol represented part of the city’s expanded police presence during the holiday.
Chief Savelli told the Daily Breeze after the arrest that the department planned to deploy mounted officers at other major events, including Fiesta Hermosa and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
From Police Blotter to Stage Material
Conant grew up in Los Angeles with a Mexican mother and white father. He eventually turned personal stories about bad decisions into comedy material. The Hermosa Beach arrest became one of his signature bits.
Career Milestones:
- Selected as a New Face at Just For Laughs Festival
- Performed at Netflix Is A Joke Festival
- Name displayed on The Comedy Store wall
- Appeared on MTV’s Next and Greatest Party Story Ever Told
His stand-up focuses on sobriety, childhood chaos, and questionable life choices. Audiences responded to his willingness to examine his own mistakes.
Going Viral
Conant posted a TikTok video in January 2024 telling the fireworks story on stage. The clip collected more than 171,000 likes. He captioned it “the story that started it all” and added an apology to his mother.
In November 2024, he appeared on The Wayback podcast with Ryan Sickler. They discussed multiple fireworks stories from his youth, including the Hermosa Beach incident that made him “famous.”
His TikTok account (@craigpconant) features several clips about the arrest. Another viral story involves getting fired from Trader Joe’s, which became his “Loosey Goosey” bit. The content regularly pulls millions of views.
Current Comedy Circuit
Conant now tours nationally. Comedy clubs from Chicago to Vancouver book him for multi-night runs. His biographical materials describe his style as “storytelling, self-deprecating humor, and reflections on sobriety.”
Multiple venues cite the same career arc: chaotic upbringing, arrest and recovery period, then building a comedy career from those experiences. The Hermosa Beach arrest appears in nearly every promotional description.
He performed at San Jose Improv, Comedy Works Denver, and venues across the country throughout 2025 and into 2026.
The Legal Outcome
Public records don’t show the final disposition of the 2009 charges. Conant references the arrest openly in interviews and stage performances but doesn’t discuss sentencing or legal consequences in available recordings.
What remains clear: the incident didn’t end his ability to travel for comedy tours or appear at major festivals.
Local Impact
Hermosa Beach still bans all fireworks. The city website warns residents that fire crews patrol neighborhoods during Independence Day weekend. Violations result in fines and confiscation.
Police maintain expanded presence along the Strand during July 4th celebrations. Mounted patrol units appear at various city events, though the department declined to comment on whether they still remember the 2009 incident.
The Hermosa Beach Ironman continues to draw thousands each year. The combination of athletic competition, beach crowds, and holiday festivities makes security a yearly concern.
When Bad Judgment Pays Off
Craig Conant threw firecrackers at police horses on July 4, 2009. He got arrested on the Hermosa Beach Strand in front of holiday crowds.
Most people would bury that story. Conant built a career telling it on stages across North America. The comedian who once tried to spook trained patrol horses now makes audiences laugh about the moment deputies caught him.
The horses stayed calm that day. Conant turned his arrest into material that resonates with comedy fans who appreciate someone willing to own their worst decisions. Sometimes the punchline takes seventeen years to land.
